26 August, 2020

Climate and the Earth’s Biomes


Climate vs Weather



Current vs Collective state of the atmosphere


Elements of climate and weather



  • Precipitation
    • process that ends with the fall of water to the earth’s surface.


  • Temperature
    • amount of heat energy in the air


  • Atmospheric pressure
    • force exerted on a surface by the weight of the atmosphere.
    • varies vertically; decrease as you ascend
  • Wind
    • dries humidity, causes storms, and drives evaporation


  • Solar radiation
    • provides heat


  • Cloudiness
    • form when humid air cools to dew point & water/ice attaches to dust, ash, etc.
    • type and # are important

Climate controls life, but what controls climate?


Slope of Earth’s surface causes uneven heating


Earth’s axial tilt (23.5°) creates seasons


Changes in Earth’s tilt and Ice Ages


Atmosphere circulation impacts climate via “Air Donuts”


Earth’s atmosphere contains six rotating “Air Donuts”


Earth surface processes impact climate


Mountains and the rain shadow effect


Surface features impacts weather: Atlantic hurricanes


Vegetation alters on climate

Why is London warmer than Boston?


Ocean currents heavily impact global climates


Global climate: El Nino (https://www.climate.gov/enso)


Biomes: Usually defined by communities of plants and animals



Climate controls life: Terrestrial biomes


Climate and ecology questions are scale dependent


Ocean Biomes: Depth, light and nutrients


Ocean Biomes: Coastal productivity


How does climate impact ecology?